Tehran Prepares Countermeasures to Europe’s 'Terrorist' Designation of Revolutionary Guard

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and Revolutionary Guard Commander Hossein Salami in closed parliamentary session (EPA)
Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and Revolutionary Guard Commander Hossein Salami in closed parliamentary session (EPA)
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Tehran Prepares Countermeasures to Europe’s 'Terrorist' Designation of Revolutionary Guard

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and Revolutionary Guard Commander Hossein Salami in closed parliamentary session (EPA)
Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and Revolutionary Guard Commander Hossein Salami in closed parliamentary session (EPA)

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian did not rule out his country’s regime retaliating against Europe if it decides to blacklist Iran’s Revolutionary Guard as a terrorist organization. Reciprocal measures that Iran could take include withdrawing from the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons

Iran’s top diplomat, however, said that Iran received messages denying Europe wanting to follow through on the terrorist designation.

Meanwhile, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf threatened European armies and said that their members will not be safe in the region.

The Iranian parliament discussed the European Parliament's recent vote on blacklisting the Revolutionary Guard in a closed session attended by Amir-Abdollahian and Revolutionary Guard Commander Hossein Salami. President Ibrahim Raisi later joined the session.

Last Thursday, the European Parliament passed a resolution by majority vote, calling on the Iranian authorities to end human rights abuses, the execution of demonstrators, and the suppression of dissent.

The bloc also recommended designating the Revolutionary Guard as a terrorist organization alongside its foreign operations arm, the Quds Force, and the Basij forces.

Ghalibaf, who is himself a former commander of the Guards air force, added that parliament would “recognize the armies of the European countries... as terrorist groups.”

Alireza Salimi, a member of the Parliament’s presiding board, offered some details about the closed session.

“If Europe commits an unforgivable mistake, Iran will take similar countermeasures,” said Salimi.

“Iran will also declare all European military institutions as terrorists,” he revealed, adding that “from now on, none of the European military institutions in the region will be safe, and even their military advisors will not feel safe in their embassies.”

“The Europeans have sent messages that they do not intend to take such action and requested Iran not to take similar countermeasures. Americans have also sent messages to Iran and requested negotiations,” added Salimi.



Spanish Flood-Hit Towns Brace for Another Storm

A bulldozer removes damaged cars in the flood-hit municipality of Paiporta, province of Valencia, Spain, 12 November 2024. (EPA)
A bulldozer removes damaged cars in the flood-hit municipality of Paiporta, province of Valencia, Spain, 12 November 2024. (EPA)
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Spanish Flood-Hit Towns Brace for Another Storm

A bulldozer removes damaged cars in the flood-hit municipality of Paiporta, province of Valencia, Spain, 12 November 2024. (EPA)
A bulldozer removes damaged cars in the flood-hit municipality of Paiporta, province of Valencia, Spain, 12 November 2024. (EPA)

Flood-hit towns near the eastern city of Valencia were rushing on Tuesday to clear the sewage system of mud and debris, pile sandbags and cancel school classes as they prepared for another approaching storm.

Two weeks after the worst floods in Spain's modern history killed more than 200 people, national weather service AEMET issued an orange alert, the second-highest, for strong or torrential rains expected on Wednesday in the same area.

AEMET forecasts as much as 120 mm (4.7 inches) of rain in 12 hours. While the storm is not expected to be as powerful, it could be devastating for the towns that are still recovering.

The impact of the rain could be severe because of the quantities of mud already on the ground and because of the condition of the sewage system, Rosa Tauris, a spokesperson for Valencia's emergency committee, told reporters.

Thousands of workers are cleaning buildings while removing the mud that accumulated on roads and sidewalks and clogged the sewage pipes and drains in towns and suburbs around Valencia.

The emergency committee issued a special warning requesting that municipalities and organizations take preventive measures, including closing schools.

Tauris recommended citizens work remotely when possible, avoid non-essential travel and follow emergency services' updates.

The town council of Chiva, one of the worst-hit sites, cancelled classes and sports activities, while in nearby Aldaia, workers piled up sandbags to protect the town.

"We are placing sandbags to replace the floodgates that the previous floods tore down," municipal worker Antonio Ojeda said, hoping this would prevent the Saleta ravine from overflowing again.

They are also cleaning the ditches and drains that are obstructed with trees, tires and car parts.

On Monday, 10,000 tons of furniture, appliances and clothing were removed, almost as much waste as Valencia disposes of in a year.

Valencian authorities suspended classes and activities at recreational centers in the flood-hit suburbs, advising volunteers who flocked to the area to help clean up to avoid travel.

The AEMET's weather alerts cover much of the Mediterranean coast of Catalonia, Valencia and Andalusia and the Balearic Islands.